Adopted!

 

“Mom, I want a younger sister!”  Elise was as definite in stating her wishes as a six-year-old can be. 

“No, Elise,” Elaine said absently.  “You aren’t going to have a younger sister.”

“Well, even a brother…”  Clearly, a brother would be second best, but Elise would tolerate this for the possibility of having a younger sibling.  It is hard being the youngest in the family and with a simple decision on her parent’s part, she could immediately join the ranks of “older children.”

“Not even a brother,” Elaine said, with little thought.  This wasn’t the first time this request had been placed and each time it had been shot down as easily as a sushi order in Texas Roadhouse.

“I think we should adopt Michael or his younger sister Emma,” Elise said (names have been changed to protect the innocent). 

“But Michael and Emma have loving parents,” Elaine protested.  “They don’t need adopting.  Usually, when you adopt children, it is because they don’t have parents or the parents can’t take care of them for some reason.”

“What about Mia?”  I asked.  “Would you like to adopt her?”  I’m not sure why I asked.  Mia also has loving parents and no need of the Waldron’s home as a shelter from a life of homelessness.

“No,” Elise said flatly.  “Mia is too bossy.  She would not fit in here at all!”

So, the conversation went.  Elise was certain that there was some child that went to church with her or school with her who would benefit greatly from getting adopted into our home, while her parents were just as certain that this wasn’t going to happen.

The Bible speaks of our entrance into the family of God as an “adoption.”  “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:14,15)

This is not a situation where we were living in a well to do, middle class family when suddenly a classmate offered us the chance to be adopted by her family.  Rather, we were destitute, homeless, and without purpose when God, through His great mercy reached down and offered us a place in His family.

I suppose it would have been enough for Him to offer us a position as a servant – carrying in firewood or polishing the silver, but instead, He offered us something far better.  The Hebrew term, Abba, is a term of endearment and trust.  It speaks of relationship.

Even though we did not deserve it, our Heavenly Father made us co-heirs with Jesus.  He adopted us into the best family there is or could ever be, the family of God.